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Home Safety: Make It A Priority

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

They were once a home feature reserved for the rich and famous – or at least those with valuables that most people see only on reality TV shows.
And while times have changed, home security systems are changing, too, keeping not only “regular folks” safe from burglars but also from fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Making home safety a priority in the new year doesn’t have to be just a dream; it can become an affordable reality, too.
If you’re still not convinced, consider the other reasons why it might be smart to equip your home with a security system:
You can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that your home is safe 24 hours a day, even the times when you are not at home. Most home security systems send an alarm directly to a central location that will in turn notify you if your home or valuables are being threatened.
The system promptly alerts police in your neighborhood, giving them the chance to catch the intruder on the act.
The system, if equipped with a motion sensor, could trigger a bright light that may deter would-be burglars.
The adhesive stickers touting your home security system on your back and front doors could convince would-be burglars not to take a chance on breaking into your home.
The system, if equipped with smoke and fire alarms and carbon monoxide seniors, could alert you to seek safety and send local emergency authorities directly to your home.
You may be entitled to a discount on your homeowner’s insurance.
Despite these advantages, it pays to remain vigilant about home safety and remember
common-sense measures, such as keeping your doors and windows locked at night and installing decent lighting at all entrances. After all, there is no better home safety protection than common sense.

Safer Still…

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

You’ve looked into ADT Security in Pittsburgh and you’ve taken classes on self defensewhat else can you do to ensure your home and family are safer than ever? Here are a few suggestions from the safety folks on the blogosphere
Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors: You hear about it on the news every year but people still don’t take the necessary steps to protect their families from CO2. Install a detector for just a few bucks and sleep soundly at night knowing your family will be safer.
Motion Operated Flood Lights: Burglars consistently say one of the biggest deterrents to them is the presence of a bright light – install motion operated flood lights in front of and behind your house that will come on anytime someone is near your home.
Get a Dog: Another robbery deterrent is a dogand it doesn’t even have to be a big one! A small dog who barks as well as a small “beware of dog” sign can do wonders to keep people from breaking into your home. Burglars don’t want to deal with any hassles when they enter.

The Top Ways To Keep Your Home Warm In Winter

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are a lot of great ways to keep your house warm in the winter. The first way is to make sure that the HVAC system is doing what it is suppose to be doing. This means making sure that the filter is not dirty and worn. If it is, just buy a new filter. The second way is make sure that your duct work is not leaking. If there is a leak, then there could be a possibility of some cold air coming into the house. If you find a leak, then use a duct mastic to cover it up.

The third way is check out how things are going in your attic. It is usually the main culprit for any cold air being in your house. This could be because you have some broken windows or holes in your attic. Cold air has a way of finding all of these places. The fourth way is to make sure all of your windows are insulated properly. If there are any faulty seals in your house, then there will be cold air all through your house. Open up the curtains to get a little of the sun in to help warm up the house.

Baby Hazards: What Can Harm Your Child In Your Home?

admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

As mother to an active toddler with my second on the way, I continually need to consider the potential hazards to my daughter in our home. There are so many things in the home we often forget about that can cause serious damage to a little one. One of the best tips I’ve heard yet is to go though out the house at your child’s level to determine everything that is within reach or level with her head. Look for sharp or hard edges of furniture that could cause painful bumps, things she could climb on or into, electrical outlets and other sources of electricity within reach, and sharp objects or weapons. Keep an eye out for small objects that would pose a choking hazard and small pieces of larger objects your baby could detach and choke on along with medicines and poisons.

Use outlet covers, child safety locks, corner and edge guards, and baby gates to keep your child safe and always keep an eye on your child, protecting against any new hazards as you discover them and as your child becomes more mobile. Just yesterday I went briefly into another room and returned to find my girl scaling her high chair.
As our children grow, we need to continue evaluating for hazards to keep them safe.

Ways To Prevent Fire Hazards In Your Home

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The idea of having a fire in your home is a terrifying one. There are simple things cleaning tasks that you can do that will greatly reduce your chances of having to experience a fire in your home.

The Stove and the Oven

There are a few items in your home that are very likely to start a fire if they are not well maintained. Simple cleaning processes are usually all it takes to keep these items in check. Your stove can cause fires when it is dirty. Be sure to remove all dirt and debris before and after cooking. Cleaning your oven regularly will reduce the possibility of the baked on grease and food at the bottom of the oven igniting and causing a problem.

The Dryer

Probably the most commonly overlooked fire hazard is your dryer vent. Remove lint from the lint trap after every load of laundry. Twice a year you should also thoroughly clean out the dryer’s vent on the back of the unit and the hose that leads to the outside of your home. The lint that collects in the hose through regular use is extremely flammable and by nature, is very close to a heat source.

It really can be that easy. All of these cleaning tasks except for one are small scale cleaning jobs if they are done each time you finish using the appliance. When you keep on top of these new chores they only take a minute or two. As for cleaning the dryer vent and hose, it may be a lengthy process but it is not very hard. If you are opposed to cleaning the dryer vent and hose yourself, there are cleaning services that will do this for you for the right price.

Is Your Home Safe For Your Children?

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A home where there are small children staying has got to undergo some preparation before it could be considered a safe place for them to live. Some of the things that can be done to improve your home’s safety are extremely inexpensive and easy to do.

Electric Outlets

Electric outlets can pose a very serious danger to a curious child. It is very important to cover all outlets that are within your child’s reach. Most stores carry simple plastic inserts that you just push into the vacant outlet and they are well worth the couple of dollars that they cost. Installing them should only take a couple minutes of your time and the benefit is your peace of mind that your little one will not be able to access the plug to try sticking anything into it, possibly getting hurt in the process.

Door Knobs

Once your little one begins to walk, you should consider purchasing some door knob covers. They are simple devices that fit over the door knob by either snapping two pieces together around it or sliding the device right over the door knob. They prevent small children from opening the door by requiring pressure to be applied in order to actually turn the knob. A small child does not usually have the ability to apply such pressure which causes any attempt they make to simply turn the device around the outside of the unmoving door knob, keeping your little one safely inside with you.

There are numerous other ways to improve your home’s safety for your child. A simple stroll down the child safety aisle at your local department store can provide you with some solutions to your home’s challenges. Take a closer look at those safety products and you may just notice some that are designed to protect in a way that you haven’t even thought of yet. You owe it to your family to do all you can to protect them.